As the population of Akwa Ibom State capital city, Uyo continues to expand and grow, and with the state government avowed commitment to make Akwa Ibom, a destination for all, the Governor Udom Emmanuel-led government has restructured all apparatus with a view to drive this process effectively, with a serene environment in mind.

The state government made this known through one of its agencies, the Akwa Ibom State Environment Protection and Waste Management Agency, AKSEPAWMA, yesterday, in Uyo.

Speaking through the Chairman of the agency AKSEPAWMA, Hon. Akpan Ikim, while responding to questions on a live radio interview, the government said that all machinery has been put in place, including environment, waste, erosion management, and enforcement officers, and health officers among others to ensure a clean conducive, peaceful and safe environment.

According to Ikim, government, through the AKSEPAWMA has authorized and deployed relevant personnel to visit manufacturing companies in the state, and residents and abattoir to inspect and ascertain adherence to the best sanitary conditions.

“With the environmental health officers that we have, we have already restructured a whole lot and the enforcement officers are on the streets now, so anyone caught littering the environment would be arrested and prosecuted.

“The issue of throwing waste from the car would be a thing of the past. We have set aside 6 a.m., to7p.m., to evacuate refuses and any person caught dumping refuse after that will be arrested,” AKSEPAWMA Chairman said.

On the non-availability of receptacles in some strategic places within the state capital,  Ikim disclosed that government had partnered a Chinese company to supply more and bigger receptacles especially as the population of Uyo continues to expand and grow.

The Chairman urged Akwa Ibomites and residents in the state to always see last Saturday Sanitation exercise of every month, which begins by 7 am and end by 10 am as a collective responsibility aimed at ensuring homes, streets and Akwa Ibom environment are clean and healthy